Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-17
DAILY HERALD.
CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH.
A Practical and Interesting sum.
dmy school Discourse.

AT the First presbyterian Siiuieh
yesterday morning, Rev. W. j. Chi
chester treated the subject OF the Sun
day School to a very large congrega-
tion. He took his text from Second
Timothy, Sd chapter, 18th verse
"And that from child thou hast
knowa the holy scriptures, which are
able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Jesus
Christ" The eloquent divine looked
upon the children as the
Church, NOT as an appendage
to it, but most essential and
intrinsic part OF it. This Sunday
had been set apart throughout
Christendom by the Presbyterian
Church as day devoted to the pray.
crful consideration OF the Sunday
schools, and he would devote his en-.
tire discourse to practical views upon
the subject of their fostering care and
advancement. 1t was the duty of all
members of the church to take per-
sonal interest in the schools, and to
encourage them by their periodical
presence. 1t would be helpful to the
teachers and encouraging to the chill
dren. He would then urge upon
every parent the duty of sending their
children to the Sunday school.
He was no sectarian, but
he believed in the tuition
of Presbyterian parents children in
Presbyterian Sunday schools. They
had membership of seven hundred
in that church, whilst less than two
hundred and fifty children were en-
rolled in the school. Where were the
rest of the children of this church
during the hours of the Sabbath
teaching? He laid accentuated stress
on Bible teaching to the children at
a very early age. Timothy was an
example of the benefits Of early cul-
ture in the truths of Scripture. He
was fortunate in having had a de-
voted Christian mother and grand
mother who early inoculate1 him with
a knowledge of the teachings of the
word OF God, and hence st. Paul
could truly say to him, from a child
thou hast known the holy Scrip
tures," and was thus rendered wise
into salvation. The knowledge that
comes to the young mind is lasting
knowledge, and abideth to the end
with him who has been fortunate en-
ough to receive it. Hence he would
urge teachers to impress deeply upon
the mind of the children the great
cornerstone truths of the Bible. He
believed in the old-fashioned course OF
having children commit to memory
passages of the Good Book. These
would always prove ready treasure,
and would be like a shield and a
buckler against sin and temptation in
their after life. He cited long list
of great men in every walk of life
whose successful careers were due to
the strong foundations laid in the Sun
day school when they were children.
The teachers should not only study
the lessons they were to give for a
few hours before they were given
but they should digest them during
the whole week prior. They should
be ready with illustrations which
would graphically photograph on the
youthful mind the meaning oi
their lessons. An apt illustration
or a picture is the electric interpre-
ter between the text and the con
ception of the child. A wise preacher
will never repeat an old sermon with.
out changing its illustrations. These
would certainly betray him, whilst
his deep reasoning and philosophy
would be so soou forgotten that his old
sermon would pass for new. Sunday
school teachers should put them
selyes on a level with the
mind of the child. The simpler the
vocabulary the better. He illustrated
how, even with grown persons, they
were often so different in their diction
as to be misunderstood one by the
other, and cited the interview between
Mark Twain's Buck Fanshaw and the
minister who was wanted to preach at
the funeral of deceased miner.
Above all he believed that fidelity to
duty in the teacher was the greatest
object to be attained. The teacher
who is always with his class, always
earnest and painstaking in making
the most out of the lessons, and al
ways throwing his whole individuality
into the work, was the successful
teacher. A conscientious and ever
faithful carrying out of the work Of
impressing the children with the
truths OF scripture was what
would tell in the long run.
This point was very finely illustrated
by the case of the blacksmith who
was engaged to forge the links of a
ships cable, With conscientious
thoroughness the man worked day
after day upon the chain, hammering
out the links and Welding them to-
gether, until they were made
as strong as if they
had been composed of one con-
tinuous piece of metal. The black
smith could have done his work in
half the time by scrimping it. But
he was true and faithful to his task.
He had long been laid away in the
village churchyard, when one day a
great ship was riding the waves near an
COuSt- IliC Olti tildlh W do
lying neglected on the deck, covered
with the rust OF years. The storm
was rapidly drifting the vessel upon a
reef. The masts had gene and the
bulwarks were stove in. The last
hope was in the anchor held by the
chain forged by the faithful old black
smith. 1t was drawn out to its utmost
tension, The lives of all on board
depended upon its holding together
1t was the true right arm of the old
blacksmith against the waves and the
storm. II did not belle its maker, but
held out until the storm was over and
the ship was saved. So with the early
training of children. If the teacher
is faithful to his trust. he will so weld
each link of the great truths of the
Bible and implant them into the mind
of the youths that they will have an
anchor of hope within themselves that
will enable them to safely ride the
storms of life and hold them off from
the reefs of temptation.